Master's in Emergency & Disaster Management
Erik Wood

Professor Erik Wood is a researcher, subject matter expert, and part of the adjunct faculty at the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies Emergency and Disaster Management Program. You can find him teaching Introduction to GIS 630, Ethics 500, or helping as a guest lecturer in Risk Communications, Research Methods, or as a Capstone Advisor

Erik has experience with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, grant writing, and 20+ years experience in private and public sector project management. He completed his BS at California Polytechnic University at Pomona in Environmental Science and has a landscape architecture license in the State of Washington (#735). He has completed various FEMA certifications and several continuing studies certificate programs on global disaster management from Harvard. Erik was the CEO of a social justice software start-up which included lobbying for policy change at the state level, public speaking, and forging safety and business partnerships. He volunteers for various crisis mapping entities that are mobilized during disasters. 

Erik’s first experience with GIS dates back to the early 1990’s and he completed several projects using early ESRI software. His peer-reviewed research has been published twenty-two (22) times since the beginning of 2020. Research concentrations include international and national climate change adaptation (CCA), GIS-based vulnerability assessments, hazard economics, disaster ethics, equitable distribution of limited resources, social justice, and adaptive capacity. Erik enjoys mountain biking and traveling - especially to the DC area whenever he can but currently lives near Seattle. He is also a proud graduate of the Emergency and Disaster Management Master’s Program at Georgetown University. You can connect with him on Twitter (X) @erikxwood or on LinkedIn